Located in the heart of Tijuana, the Zona Centro is a lively district clustered with cultural museums, taquerias and bars. It’s traversed by the Avenida Revolucion where the caesar salad is said to have been invented by the Italian-American restaurateur, Caesar Cardini. Directly north of the Zona Centro is the United States-Mexican border.
Things to do in Zona Centro
One of the Zona Centro’s most important buildings is the Santuario de la Virgen de Guadalupe, a monumental cathedral with twin towers that was completed in the 1970s. It was inspired by Colonial and Neo-Classical architecture, with an image of the Virgin Mary above its entrance. Nearby is the Tijuana Arch, a shining, metallic landmark that was built to mark the millennium.
Set across two floors is the History Museum Tijuana, which houses exhibits dedicated to the cultural and natural history of the region. It’s a short stroll from the Museo de Cera de Tijuana, where you’ll find art exhibitions, an IMAX theatre and a 10-room wax museum. In its four themed areas are life-size recreations of Pre-Hispanic legends and Mexican heroes, as well as Gandhi, Marilyn Monroe and Elvis Presley.
One of Tijuana’s most unique museums is the Museo del Coleccionista de Tijuana, which displays a fascinating array of vintage toys and collectibles. If you’re interested in Latin American wrestling, don’t miss the upper-floor Museo de La Lucha Libre Mexicana, which showcases almost 7,000 objects related to the sport. In addition to original masks, comics and piggy banks, it features elaborately decorated costumes.
Getting around Zona Centro
Tijuana International Airport is a 25-minute drive from the Zona Centro and has flights to destinations across Mexico. Taxis are available from the United States-Mexico border to the Zona Centro, which is compact enough to explore on foot.